Manually-operated slack-adjuster



F. E. SCHWENTLE R. MANUALLY OPERATED SLACK ADJUSTER.

- APPLICATION FlLl ED SEPT-30. 1916.

Patented Jan. 20, 1920.

INVENTOR ,umrnn STATES PATENT OFFICE.

FRANCIS E. SCHWENTLER, or sr. LOUIS, MISSOURI, Assmrioaro- THE AMERICAN BRAKE comm, or sr. LOUIS, mssouar, A coRPonArIonor mssoum.

MANUALL Y-OPERA TED SLACK-ADJUSTER.-

"Specification of lletters Patent. 9 Patented J an. 20, 1920.

Application filed September 30. 1916. Serial No. 122,994.

To all whom it may concern: I

Be it known that I, FRANCIS, E. SoHwnNT- LER, a citizen of the United States, residing at St. Louis, in the State of Missouri, have invented a certain new and useful Improve-' rendering it possible to take up the slack without exposing the men to danger in working under the car.

.In the accompanying drawing: Figure -1 is a vertical longitudinal section of a slack adjuster embodying my improvement; Fig.

' 2, a transverse section taken onthe line 22 of Fig. 1; Fig. 3, a transverse section taken on the line 33 of Fig. 1; and Fig. 4, a igansverse section taken on the line 4-1 of i 1.

' ccording to the construction shown, the preferred form of the improvement C0111- prises an adjuster casing or body, 5, containing the adjuster screw, 7, on which 1s mounted the cross head or fulcrum block, 13', having lugs fitting Within the zguide channels, 14, for guiding the block as the sameslides longitudinally within the casing. The block, 13, is also provided with a projectlon extending laterally through a slot 111 the side of the adjuster casing, for carrying the fulcrum pin, 15, on which the lever, 16, of the brake rigging is pivoted.

The adjuster casing, 5, is provided at one end with a hub portion, 6, within which is the cylindrical bearing for the screw, and on the outside of the hub is fitted the gear housing, 8, which may be secured to the adjuster casing by bolts at the four corners,.

face, and forms another bearing for the screw in the outer wall of thegear housing, 8. The gear, 9, is thus fitted between the outer wall of the housing and the end .I claim as new and desire of the hub portion, 6, and prevents longitudinal movement of the screw in the casing.

The transverse shaft, 12, is mounted in bearings 1n the gear housmg, 8, and carries the spiral gear or worm wheel, 11, meshing with the gear, 9, within the housing. The

transverse shaft may also extend to one or both sides of the car, and be provided with suitable means, such as a wrench or hand wheel, for manually operating the same.

The adjuster casing'is provided with bolting lugs at the top and bottom, making it convenient for application for either right or left hand operation, and the gear housing, 8 may be adjusted 'on the hub portion 1n di erent quadrants, if'desired, for the ,purpose of carrying the transverse" shaft above or below the adjuster screw to clear 1 brake rods or other obstructions on the car. When it is desired to adjust the device for the purpose of taking up the slack in the brake rigging due to the wear of the brake shoes, or when new shoes are to be inserted, the shaft, 12, may be readily turned by suitable means at the side of the car, and,

through the action of the gears, 11 and 9, the screw will be operated to adjust the fulcrum block and lever to the desired position.

Having now described my invention, what to secure by Letters Patent is:

1. In a slack adjuster, the combination of a casing having a hub portion at one end, a screw rotatably mounted in said casing and having a bearingin the hub portion, a gear housing secured-tothe hub portion of the casing, a gear wheel fixed on said screw and fitted between the" hub portion of the casing and the outer wail of the gear housing for 1 preventing longitudinal movement of the screw, and means wheel.

2. In a slack adjuster, the combination of a casing, a screw rotatably mounted in the casing and having a bearing at one end thereof, a gear housing secured to the end for operating said gear of the casing outside of said bearing, a gear wheel mounted on the stem of the screw within the housing, a cylindrical nut at the end of the screw stem and having a bearing in the outer wall of the housing, and means for operating said gear wheel.

3. In a slack adjuster, the combination of a casing, a screw rotatably mounted in said casing and having a bearing in one end I thereof, a gear housing secured at the end of said casing, a gear wheel mounted on the stem of said screw outside of said casing and within the housing, a nut on said stem for holding the gear wheel, and a hearing at the a casing having a hub portion and a hearing at one end, a screw rotatably mounted in said bearing, a gear housing secured to the end ofthe casing, a gear wheel mounted on the stem of the screw and fitted between the hub "portionand the outer wall of the housing, a

manually operated shaft extending transv'ersely from the housing, and a worm mounted on said-shaft and engaging the gear-wheel within the housing.

In testimony whereof I have hereunto set V my hand.

FRANCIS E. SCHWENTLER. 

